Patrick Russell – Hip Replacement Success Story

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers

When Patrick Russell was studying to become a mechanical engineer back in the 1970s, he learned an important lesson: Question everything.

So in 2012, when doctors started telling him he needed hip replacement surgery, he asked why.

“We had a problem finding a physician who would explain,” says Patrick, who lives in Paradise, Texas, with his wife, Pamela. He finally found one in Jason Lowry, MD, FAAOS, orthopedic surgeon at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, in 2014.

By then, Patrick’s condition had devolved into extremely painful arthritis.

Why a new hip?

“The hip is a ball-and-socket joint,” says Dr. Lowry. “But instead of nice spherical ball joints, Mr. Russell’s were almost egg-shaped, which caused the hips to wear out faster.”

Dr. Lowry agreed that Patrick needed a hip replacement but went on to explain why he needed it and how it could best be accomplished with the anterior approach. This procedure allows the surgeon to operate between muscles rather than cutting them, resulting in less pain and a faster recovery.

Getting ready for a new joint

Patrick got even more answers through the Joint Academy, a workshop for joint replacement patients that explains how to prepare for the procedure, what to expect on the day of surgery, and what to do when they return home.

“When patients are educated, they have less anxiety,” says Paula McMahan, RN-BC, nurse navigator with the Joint Academy. “They’re at Methodist Mansfield only a couple days, but then they have weeks at home to fully recover from the surgery. The Joint Academy prepares them to have the best outcomes.”

At the Joint Academy, Patrick was also able to review with his team of providers his choice to not have blood transfusions. As a Jehovah’s Witness, Patrick appreciated the extra precautions taken to accommodate his faith’s understanding of Scripture.

“We were able to confirm that his blood count was high enough before each procedure, but if it hadn’t been, we could have used iron and nutritional supplements and medications to boost his blood count,” Dr. Lowry says.

‘Couldn’t be happier’

Patrick is now enjoying restored freedom of movement since his right hip was replaced in December 2014 and his left one this past February.

“I couldn’t be happier,” he says. “If you want to get up again and get moving properly and take part in life, the Joint Academy will help you get there.”